MEXICO CITY, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Tuesday that Mexico and the United States agreed to gradually reopen the border for cattle trade starting July 7, following a suspension in May due to the New World screwworm (NWS) outbreak.

Speaking at a morning press conference, Sheinbaum said the reopening would be phased to monitor the pest situation.

"The U.S. wants to monitor how the outbreak behaves before fully reopening. We've insisted the screwworm is contained, mostly in southern regions, but the key is that an agreement has been reached," Sheinbaum said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suspended Mexican cattle imports on May 12 for 15 days over a screwworm scare, but the restriction was extended beyond that period.

The United States is cautious about the reopening as the NWS could pose a serious threat to the country's agricultural industry. According to the USDA, the NWS is a devastating pest whose maggots burrow into the flesh of a living animal and cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. Although the USDA eradicated the NWS from the United States in 1966, there is a constant risk of reintroduction into the country. ■